Monday, April 30, 2012

The Divine Design - Why Are We Here?

The Great Plan Of Happiness~

OK, we had a great life in the premortal sphere; we just didn't have a body and we could not progress without one. I believe there were many teaching moments with our Heavenly parents and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We learned that we would receive a body and life experiences that would help us choose our path back to our Heavenly Father. We knew that our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ would come to earth to live and be our example to follow. He would give His life for us through the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane and finally His death on the Cross of Calvary. His ultimate sacrifice would bring us back to Him and our Heavenly Father on the condition that we obeyed the Savior's commandments and did all that we can do to follow the plan. We shouted for joy at the opportunity to come here and waited patiently for our turn on earth. So here we all are in this second estate.Yes, it is miserable at times and happiness eludes us.However, we knew the plan.We are here experiencing mortal life with all of it's frailties. None will escape the trials and troubles of life. On the flip side; we will find some of our greatest happiness and joys during this brief span of existence.

Just think your life has a plan.What is very sad is that not everybody know this!

I love this thought by Elder Richard G. Scott; " You are not able to remember one of the most exhilarating moment of your life, when you were filled with anticipation, excitement and gratitude. That experience occurred in the premortal life when you were informed that at last your time had come to leave the spirit world to dwell on earth with a mortal body. You knew you could finally learn through personal experience on earth the lessons that would bring greater happiness -lessons that would eventually lead you to exaltation and eternal life as a glorified, celestial being in the presence of your Holy Father and His Beloved son. You understood that there would be challenges, for you would live in an environment of both righteous and evil influences. Yet surely you resolved that no matter what the cost, no matter what the effort, suffering, and testing, you would return victorious....You anticipated being born into a home where parents would love, nurture, strengthen, and teach you truths. You knew that in time you would have the opportunity to form your own eternal family. Oh, how you must have rejoiced at that prospect!"

"He further asked a question to ponder. How are you using that opportunity you were so anxious to receive? Do daily decisions lead you toward those goals you so eagerly anticipated as a spirit in the premortal life?" (Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy by Richard G. Scott, pg.10)So where does this thought lead us. We know that life was never intended to be easy. We have challenges and experiences that test our soul; but with these challenges and experiences we have growth. I believe that we have a loving, patient, understanding Heavenly Father who cares deeply for us as individuals and families. He wants us to be happy. His plan is The Plan of Happiness and Joy.Remember the wonderful gift of agency that we came to earth with to choose the path we will take. Here is a statement In the Book Of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:27 on agency:"Men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death,...for the devil seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."Elder Scott states the following in his book on (pg.16-17); "An axiom we all understand is that you get what you pay for. That is true for spiritual matters as well. You get what you pay for in obedience, in faith in Jesus Christ, in diligent application of the truths you learn. What you get is the molding of character, the growth in capacity, and the successful completion of our mortal purpose to be proven and to have joy.""You can wisely use your agency to follow the teachings of the Savior....Each of us need to periodically check our bearings and confirm that we are on course. Take a personal inventory in a quiet place, noting how well you know and are following the will of the Lord in your life." A visit to the temple is one of my favorite places to ponder on some of these thoughts.Just a few statements from a pamphlet by Toni Sorenson entitled: "Finding Peace and Happiness"."It is clear to me now that God has a plan for us and that peace and happiness come only when we are absolutely confident that God is our caring Father, that Jesus is our every-vigilant Shepherd, and that we are their sheep, numbered, named, and nurtured......

"You and I are part of that vision and promise. Long ago we made sacred vows to do just what we are doing -live in mortality, struggle to make right choices, take advantage of Christ's gift to us, and help each other along the way."I know that Our Father and Heaven, our Mediator, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are only a prayer away to help us through our turn on earth as we experience our own plan specialized happiness.

7 comments:

I always love it when you share the gospel with your readers LeAnn! You do such a wonderful job of it. I am in awe of you. I am working on your cards, hope to have them in to the post for you sooonest!!! xxoo

I love your posts. They help me keep my perspective straight. I think we all need that from time to time. I learn the lessons and then learn them again--according to Heavenly Father's plan. Thanks so much. Christy